Syndication
Natalie Portman’s Latest Cause
Print this article
Email this article
Other articles by Nate Sugarman
More in The ShmoozeHollywood starlet Natalie Portman is currently filming a special clip in support of a youth village being planned in Rwanda. The Israeli American actress is taking part in an effort, spearheaded by the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee and financed by American Jewish donors, to create a safe place for some 500 children-turned-refugees from the 1994 Rwandan genocide. The early Israeli villages built for children orphaned in the Holocaust inspired the concept.
Portman, who was recently named Maxim magazine’s sexiest vegetarian, will screen her film on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” to publicize this effort.
So far, plans for the housing project have been shrouded in secrecy. It has been revealed by Haaretz that Portman was recently in Africa, but she is remaining tight lipped about the youth village and is not allowing any photos to be taken of her in Africa until after the film has aired.
Comments
I applaud Ms. Portman's efforts, but our community should be embarrassed that it took 14 years after Rwanda's horrible genocide for one of us to come forth with such a plan.
Incidentally, I have visited the Genocide Memorial Center in Kigali. It is worth the trip: excellently curated, informative, hard-hitting but sensitive and respectful. Chief among the exhibits is a quote from the Talmud: "He who saves one life saves the entire world." Many Jews assisted in the creation of the Memorial; I wish our people had done more to help Rwanda recover from the tragedy we share with them.
Starlet? Starlet? How about actor, or even actress?
I commend actress Natalie Portman, whom I admire very much, on her effort to setting up, promoting and giving of her time to such a worthy cause in Rwanda. It got me thinking about the movie Blood Diamond and the children in those countries in Africa who not just took part, but who lost family, friends, entire support groups. There should be a Jewish outreach for them along the same lines as what Ms Portman is promoting.
Why do you demean Natalie Portman by referring to her as a "starlet" The Harvard graduate, who is dedicated to Jewish causes, is a first rate, veteran film actress who has given distinguished performances in starring roles in major, and majorly serious films. Portman has distinguished herself with her humanitarian efforts, and has never been involved in the scandalous and illegal behavior that has become so widespread in the entertainment industry. You owe her an apology. If you fail to make it, we would be accurate in thinking of you as a writer-reporteret.
As president of Jewish Vegetarians of North America, I wish this "sexiest vegetarian" would also take on the cause of promoting bvegetarianism, since animal-based diets are causing an epidemic of diseases in the Jewish and other communities; animal-based agriculture is contributing significantly to global warming and other environmental threats that imperil all of humanity; and the producton and consumption of meat and other animal products violate basic Jewish mandates to protect our health, treat animals with compassion, protect the environment, conserve natural resources and help hungry people.
For more information re Jewish teachings on vegetarianism, please visit JewishVeg.com. To view our new documentary A SACRED DUTY: Applying Jewish Values to Help heal the Worls, please visit ASacredDuty.com.